Making Millions: Why Dota 2's The International Has Esports’ Biggest Prize Pools

Since its first iteration back in 2011, Dota 2's The International has quickly become one of the most prestigious tournaments in all of esports , but its most lucrative. With both the 2016 and the 2017 editions boasting prize pools past the $20 million mark, The International has become as famous for its ridiculous paydays as it has for its incredible moments.
But how? How did a tournament that six years ago started with a $1.6 million prizepool grow to a ridiculous amount?
Well, it's all thanks to the compendiums. Here's a short history of how Valve did it.
Music used under license from Associated Production Music LLC (”APM”).
Written and edited by Paul Park
Narrated by Sean Meiliunas
Courtesy List:
All footage of The International courtesy Valve Corporation
twitch.tv/dotati
youtube.com/user/dota2
Additional Footage Credits:
PGL
twitch.tv/dotamajor
twitch.tv/pgl_dota
Dota Cinema
Dota Trade
Perfect World (Dota 2 Asia Championship Trailer found via Dota Recap Daily)
ESL (via DOTA 2: The Kiev Major YouTube channel)
Abthrax
H0lyhex0r
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